The Metropolis Council is seeking to crack down on unlawful vaping gadgets disguised as college provides.
These caught hawking digital cigarettes designed to resemble highlighters, pens, pencils and different college provides in NYC might quickly face fines of as much as $1,000 for first offenses beneath laws launched Thursday by Councilwoman Kamillah Hanks (D-Staten Island).
Fines would run as excessive as $2,000 for second offenses inside three years and $5,000 for third offenses.
Repeat offenders would additionally danger having enterprise licenses suspended
The invoice’s important objective is defending children’ well being, Hanks stated.
“Vapes disguised as college provides are deliberately crafted to deceive college security brokers, dad and mom, and officers, making it tough to implement vaping bans in colleges,” she stated.
“This invoice goals to ban the sale of those misleading merchandise in New York Metropolis, each in shops and on-line. By doing so, we are going to assist college security brokers of their efforts to maintain dangerous substances out of our colleges and create a safer setting for our youngsters.”
Vaping merchandise often are available in kid-friendly flavors, akin to mango, strawberry banana and blueberry ice.
In lots of instances, they’re offered on the Web and black market and are available from China and different abroad nations.
Many vapes comprise nicotine and different chemical compounds linked to lung illness and different well being dangers over long-term use.
In 2022, 18.7% of excessive schoolers vaped, in line with the state Well being Division.
In Could, the state Senate handed comparable laws sponsored by Lengthy Island Democrat Monica Martinez, however the Meeting has but to again that measure, which might cowl your entire state.
Underneath present legislation, it’s unlawful to promote flavored e-cigarettes or vapes.
Within the Huge Apple, retailers can solely promote cigarettes and different tobacco merchandise which are unflavored or menthol, mint or wintergreen-flavored.
